A Pattern of Popish Peace, Title page – To the reader
A PATTERNE OF POPISH PEACE. OR A Peace of Papists with Protestants.
BEGINNING IN ARticles, Leagues, Oathes, and a Marriage.
And ending in a bloudy Massacre of many thousand Protestants.
LONDON. Printed by L. N. for RICHARD WHITAKER, and are to be sold at his shop in Paul's Church-yard at the signe of the Kings Armes. 1644.
To the Reader, that is wise already, or that he may be wise.
ASKE and enquire what are the things of highest, most solemne, and sacred Obligation, that may call for trust in the way of peace betweene the sons of men, and when you have found them, then have you found those very things, of which Papists, and popishly affected do make nets and snares to deceive Trust; and to destroy those that trust them; Be they Treaties, Leagues, Oathes, Marriages: These, even these sacred bonds of a secure peace, are those that are turned into cords and fetters to bind those that trust them to an assured ruine and Destruction. So they are not safe, because in their nature they draw Trust, but because they draw trust, they are dangerous, for by that Trust they doe deceive. Then by what Security can any be assured of any Peace with Papists, when the very Security doth Deceit, and Destroy? Beleeve it therefore, that nothing under heaven but Power, can make you safe from Papists: For if they gaine Trust from you, and you leave Power to them; you may see in the Papists of Ireland, what their fellowes would do in England; when they had nothing to complain of, but too much liberty for an Idolatrous Religion; yet withall having too much Power, they took advantage of that Power for an Irish Massacre of English Protestants. Surely now in all the Kingdomes which this Crown carries in the Title of it, the Popish plot of warre and murder hath had bloudy passage, England, Scotland, France and Ireland. But let not us become Nurses to such a Crimson brat, by gaining it the white milke of a weake and simple Peace. But where Trnst without Power would betray and destroy us, there let Power without any Trust (below that wherby the highest above will strengthen our Power) secure us. And to keepe us close to this Rule; let the patterne of this Peace, made by French popery, stand like a Pyramide before our eyes: And when you see it, heare it it also; for it speaks, and that which it speakes is this, Pray and provide; That the peace of French popery be not translated into English, by English Protestants.
The end of the Epistle.